Broke my Powell Diesel bass spinning rod, it was under the edge of a boat tie off and I picked it up without looking...made me say "d@mn" ! Now I'm looking to upgrade the entire rig. I use a spinning rig for smaller stuff 1/8 ounce to weightless...mostly split shotting, small worms, Senko's, tubes and drop shotting. At times I use a spinning rig to pitch xtra small jigs around the edges of brush piles so it needs some backbone as well as a fast tip. Not interested in spending $$$$. Any thoughts on the matter or experiences with spinning rigs are appreciated.

What's your top dollar?

TFO makes some killer spinning rods. They max out at $160. I've got a few of them and they are really decent rods.

I got an Ardent spinning rod and an Ardent Wire reel while back and really like it sold my other hi dollar rig.

Man if you can drop the 110 on a g-rod crappie series you will be spot on!! The rod is stiff but sensitive as any rod on the market and can handle bigguns with NO problem!! Its a 7'1 ml spinning it is my all round rod! Don't need anything else and put a PFLUEGER president reel and you are MONEY!!!!!

Thanks guys all good information. I've been looking at a Shimano 7'2' Crucial MH fast tip 1/8 to 1/2 oz rod and a Sahara 2500fd. Can't get the rod until the end of this month (backordered) so I'm still thinkin' on it. Anybody have any experience with Shimano spinning combo's?

My experience is they break! but thats me! I have never really had luck with shimano I just steer WELL clear of em! You don't think a MH will be too much for dropshotting and senkos and the like? I use a ML and love the sensitivity!

For the applications you list, sort of standard ones for spinning tackle, I'd likely want a Medium power, fast tip. MH would be great for some other applications but they often can be handled just as well with bait casting equipment.

Hey! Go over and look at St. Croix spinning rods and you will see a really cool breakdown of rods based on usage expectations. St. Croix is generally considered one of the top 4 or 5 names in rods and you can get a really good one for just over $100.

I think I'd be looking for a 7 footer, M, fast tip if I were throwing drop shots, split shots, weightless worms, etc.

Good luck finding a really good replacement!

Brad

Crucials break alot. I broke 3 before I sold them. If they do break, they will replace them, but I got tired of replacing them.

Good response from Brad...several nice lines of spinning rods offered by St. Croix.

Shimano Crucials breaking? What part of the rod is the break occurring? Heard the same things about Bass Pro Johnny Morris top of the line rods...

Missed out on a Dobyns 701 spinning rod...made me say d@mn . Thinking about a Powell Max 3D 713 MEF...anybody have any experience with this rod?

For the money castaway is hard to beat....

Get Ron @ Reel Time rods to build you one. You would like the rod he can build you better than the Dobyns 701.
His shop is located @ Popes Landing @ Lake Fork.

The rods are terrible, they are cheap and they break with very little help...Just Buy the Shimano reel, go get a good rod...Bonehead is my go to rod...in any length...they will set you back around $100...they are highly sensitive rods, fast or verry fast tips and strong backbone. You CAN spend more, or get a lighterr rod, but I am not sure you can get a better rod, especially for the money. Well you can spend $300 buck and get a better rod...

Breaking rods? Wow. How are you guys mishandling those rods to break so many? I have and use a Shimano Cumera CUS72 MA spinning rod, a medium with a fast tip, for inshore fishing and never have problems. The rod is sensitive enough to feel the tail of a swim shad throbbing and more than enough backbone to wrestle a slot red to heel. I wouldn't call this rod "terrible", nor "cheap"........quite well built and very functional. We all have our favorite makers in the market........no need to run down another man's choice.